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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "OFFICE FUND" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <smithivan28@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 10:28:09 +0200
Subject: ATTENTION,ATTENTION,ATTENTION

Attention:
 
 
We are happy to inform you that our legal department has concluded authentication of your claim, Credit control unit allocated foreign exchange for your payment and you have finally been approved for payment. We have also completed all paper works for your transfer. In accordance with the International Monetary Fund/Nigeria Government Foreign Contract Payment pact signed, the fund has been registered and insured in your name by the credit control unit and now in our domestic/Escrow account temporally until all necessary transfer arrangements are concluded. This measure was introduced to protect you, And to make sure we are paying to the right beneficiary and avoid being sued for lost of funds.
 
 
You are therefore required to sign the ATM FUND RELEASE ORDER Document that will necessitate the release of your ATM Payment Card in with the rules and regulations guiding us. So you are expected to make yourself available before the Management of the paying Bank here in Nigeria on or before seven working days for this assignment to enable us receive authorization from the board to transfer ATM card to your address. We expect that you contact us to secure appointment before the date.
 
Note: That due to the nature of your transaction (A/M TESTED BLOCK FUND), No one is allowed to deduct or take even a cent from the approved fund till it is finally released to you in order to avoid, fraud, fund diversion or wrong payment. Please be guided.
 
 
If you cannot make yourself available before the Management of the paying Bank here in Nigeria on or before seven working days to sign the necessary documents in person before your ATM MASTER CARD will finally be released to you, then note that you should be ready to make a payment of $350U.S dollars for a barrister who can help you sign the needed document to your ATM CARD before it can be released / delivered to your house address. Note that you are not paying more than $350U.S dollars fee to the barrister who can help you only if you cannot make yourself available but if you can, then it shall be handover to you without any fee requested from you as it has been stated by the Federal Government.
 
 
Expedite action in making sure you claim your fund now you can because we have limited time for each payment and submitting of our report/statement of account to the auditors.
 
 
We re-assure you of our efficient reliable ATM service comparable to none. Get back to me if this is ok by you.
 
 
Thanks for your co-operation
 
Mr. Ivan Smith
smithivan28@yahoo.com
+(2347)-087_638_652
 

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